VENEZUELA: THE FIRST REVOLUTION OF THE 21ST CENTURY

[Gwydion]

****** NOTE: Dr Carolus Wimmer, Director of International Relations for the National Assembly of Venezuela, is in Sydney to speak at the Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference over the Easter weekend March 24-28. For more details on agenda or to register for this conference check out

www.apsc.net.au *******

Public Meeting

VENEZUELA: THE FIRST REVOLUTION OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Special international guest speaker: CAROLUS WIMMER, Director of International Relations for the National Assembly of Venezuela

Friday March 18. 6pm

Venue: Resistance Centre, 23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale

Info contact Fred Fuentes 0438 931 414, (02) 9690 1230

[email protected]

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A continental rebellion is spreading through Latin America. The first revolution since the Sandinistas is now unfolding in Venezuela. The great majority of workers, poor and ranks of the armed forces are mobilising behind a new vision for Venezuelan society. Old state institutions are being challenged by people's power - organising to take control of key industries, change the very nature of the education and health systems, revolutionise land ownership and restructure the armed forces.

Carolus Wimmer will discuss the most recent developments, the background to the Bolivarian Revolution and the challenges that lie ahead.

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Organised by: Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, Resistance & Asia Pacific Conference

Door Donation welcome: $5/3 conc (all proceeds go towards australia-venezuela solidarity brigade for more info www.venezuelasolidarity.org)

CAROLUS WIMMER:

Currently Director of International Relations for the National Assembly of

Venezuela (4 years)

Born Munich, Germany, 1948

Studies in Biology, International Studies and Pedagogic Sciences

Doctorate in Political Science

Politburo member of the Communist Party of Venezuela

Secretary of International Relations for the Communist Party of Venezuela

President of the Foundation for Open Debate ("Debate Abierto")

Director of theoretical magazine, Open Debate ("Debate Abierto")

Producer of 3 Radio Programs of the National Radio of Venezuela and

YVKE-Mundial

[Amulte]

goodie

[Agamemnon]

Now that would be truly inspiring to go to. Against all odds and vested interests (U.S.) the people of Venezeula are getting a voice and justice!

[Torsten]

I thought the first revolution of this century was ukraine?!?

[woof woof woof]

I just live a little less then 100 km away from Venezuela,... and you say 'what' is going on?

a revolution? ha ha ha - just reorganizing I think.

Venezuela is in almost constant upanddown swing,... turbulent country. crazy line of dictator leaderships.

Chaves is just another crazy character and the county has lots of OIL,... and everyone wants a piece of the $$$pie$$$

nothing new,.. just history repeating itself,.. just a grander scale.

[apothecary]

T, if we're talking about revolutions that succeed, then you're right.

But I think the original article meant revolutions that have just begun.

Nonetheless, props to the people in the orange scarves setting things right in their countries (the orange revolution isn't limited to just Ukraine!).

[Tryptameanie]

Chavez may have had to water down his socialist program to get into power, but "just another greedy dictator" is a bit unfair I think.

Chavez and Lula are the best hope the working class of South America have.

[Gwydion]

Brian, a 100 km is sometimes a long way (the US and Cuba for example). What do you think a 'revolution' is apart from a whole lot of re-organising- some of it very drastic, and some quite mundane? This time the pie is going to the poor people- for the first time.....

Check out

www.venezuelanalysis.com

www.venezuelasolidarity.org

www.greenleft.org.au

for more information on what's really happening in Venezuela.

Also, I think anybody with illusions in Lula should re-examine the basis for these- HE's the power/$ crazy one. Chavez the Bolivarian Revolution are here to stay. ;-p

I'm gonna steer clear of the Orange "revolution" except to say that a 'revolution' paid for by US$ and with US-hired PR consultants, and which moves from one self-serving government to the next ain't a revolution in my books.

[2b]

"Greenleft.org" LOL , a truely objective site i bet

[Gwydion]

More objective than Fox, CBS, Channel 9 or friends. If you want to get into a useless debate over subjectivity vs objectivity, go right ahead. We just try to publish what happens in Venezuela, while you'll find that if any of the commercial media covers it at all, it's with such ridiculous lies that it's laughable (eg. Bin Laden is getting free medial care from Cuban doctors in Chavez's presidential palace in Caracas, etc, etc).

Anyway, you don't have to agree with me. I'm just suggesting you go out there and start doing research on Venezuela, and the process unfolding there.

[2b]

No disrespect meant , but the obejectivety of the media is a subject close to my heart (as it is to you as well) I get my news from ABC radio , SBS television and online sources . The spin the comercial networks put on news in of no interest to me , i just want objective journalism and i'll make my own mind up. As far as Venezuela is concerned , Chavez is still a dictator (IMO) just with a warm fuzzy socialist spin.

[Gwydion]

I doubt you can refer to ABC or BBC as *THAT* objective- and an investigation of the Iraq fiasco, as well as their coverage of Venezuela and other issues shows this.

I'm curious as to what actual reasons lead you to believe that Venezuela is under the "dictatorship" of Chavez, or are you just repeating the warm fuzzy "objective" spin of the western media in regards to the world's fourth largest oil exporter.

Given that Chavez has been to the polls 6 or 7 times in the past 6 years, with an ever increasing majority, has facilitated popular rewriting of the constitution (including the right to recall for the constitution, and every elected official- including Chavez, who was subjected to this law last August and came out with flying colours, and an extra majority), is redirecting (government-owned) oil-money from the hands of the rich into housing, literacy, medical, environental, indigenous, workers rights and popular democracy projetcs, and is tolerant of the opposition, even when they sabotage the economy, try to assassinate him, overthrow him in a military coup in 2002 (which was reversed by popular mass uprising) and slander him in their press and around the world- any crimes they have committed are being pursued through the normal legal channels;- given all this, HOW exactly is he a *dictator*?

Eagerly awaiting an objective answer....

[2b]

I suppose two failed coup attempts (that chavez was involved in), the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela , and not much to show in the way of reform since 1998 makes me sceptical about his agenda .I take your point about the ABC /BBC not being truely objective , the ABC always has a bit of a socialist agenda (IMO), but they both are funded by the goverments of the day. As for the popularity of Chavez i was under the opinion that it has slipped from the 80% that saw him swept into power down to 30 % today ? Any way it's time for me to go home and as i don't use a computer at home i will have to wait until the morning to continue this , but a very interesting topic.

2b

[waterdragon]

Gwydion:

More objective than Fox, CBS, Channel 9 or friends.  

don't be too quick to discount the value of this lot. i find that if i listen carefully to their message - and then believe the exact opposite of what they're pushing - then i can get news pretty close to reality.

[khanes]

Happy to hear of change in Venezuela. Thanks for the information.